Re: Bellingcat
Some say Bellingcat is an extension of the western security and propaganda apparatus
Some of the information which they have "provided" could be obtained only from classified NATO and/or Ukrainian military sources. A layman journo does not have access to any of the following: miltary satellite feeds, radio and especially GSM phone intercepts. Belingcat has "reported" (quotes intended) using these sources before any of them have become publicly available.
That for me opens and closes the question on Belingcat being (or not being) a state actor. A non-state actor could not have these information sources without someone sitting on the gaol awaiting their day in court for violating the official secrets act of one or more NATO states.